Spring-heel for boots or shoes



(No Model.)

'G. E. SWAN.

SPRING HEBL'PO'R BOOTS OR SHOLS.V

Patented Oct. 4, 1887.

IIA"

N, Parana Pnmumgnpw, waant-gm n. c.

UNITED' STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE E. SWAN, OF BEAVER DAM, WISCONSIN.

SPRING-HEEL FORh BOOTS OR SHOES.

SPECIFICATION forming peut of Letters Patent No. 370,906, dated October 4, 1887.

Application led November 8, 1886. Serial No. 218,327. Y (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, GEORGE E. SWAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Beaver Dam, in the county of Dodge and State of Visconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spring-Heels for Boots or Shoes; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertainsto make and use the same.

My invention relates to spring-heels for boots or shoes, and it has for its object to provide an improved device of this character which shall be simple in its construction and its application to the heel, and which shall serve to obviate the jar usually experienced in walking upon stone pavements, and also impart ease and elasticity to the step of the wearer.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view illustrating the heel of a boot or shoe embodying my invention. Fig. 2 isa longitudinal section thereof. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line w w, Fig. 2. VFig. 4 is a detail perspective view illustrating the plate and also the cushion. Y

Corresponding parts in the igures are denoted by the same letters of reference.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the heel of a boot or shoe to the bottom of which is secured my improved spring device. The latter comprises a spring-plate having a top and bottom wing,B C, respectively, these wings or plates being of a shape corresponding to the shape of the heel in horizontal section. The plates B C (being formed of one piece of bentover metal) are connected by the bend shown at D at the inner edge of the heel. It is well known that the heel of a boot or shoe usually Wears at the rear outside edge, and the bend just mentioned is formed, therefore, preferably, at the rear inner edge, so that the spring action of the device at the point of wear just mentioned is not interfered with.-

From the front edge of the bottom wing or plate, O, projects a ange or lip, c, which is bent up and over theV front edge of the top wing or plate, B, the latter being provided with an indenture or depression, b, to receive the edge c of the lip c. By reason of the indenture just described the top plate, B, pre sents a smooth surface in its application to the' heel, and the relative play of the plates, when the deviceis depressed in walking,is permitted.

Between the plates B and C is provided a corresponding dat elastic cushion, D, which is preferably formed of rubber, and is adapted to be depressed by the action of the springplates in walking.

E designates securing screws, which pass th rough perforations e in the top plate, B, and enter the heel A, perforations, as shown at f f f 2, respectively, being formed in the cushion D, bottom plate, C, and layer a, to admit the point of a screw-driver in the application of these screws. Ihe bottom layer of leather, a, which forms the Wearing-surface of my improved spring-heel, is secured against theunder face of the plate G by means of nails or screws g, passing through perforations g in the said plate.

The operation and advantages of my inven-` tion are obvious. In walking the jar and shock are received and lessened by the action of the spring-plates and intermediate cushion, and are notcommunicated to the wearer. The step is thereby rendered easy and elastic and the fatigue of walking materially lessened.

The form of spring-heel herein shown and described presents a modied form and construction from the invention embodied in my application for Letters Patent for elastic or spring heels led April 2, 1887, and numbered 233,436. I therefore herein claim only such lmodified form and difference in construction. lt is manifest, however, that modifications in the construction and arrangement of parts of the device herein illustrated may be made without departing from the spiritand scope of the'invention, and I therefore reserve the right to all such modifications as properly fall Within the scope of my present invention.

Having thus described my invention, Iclaim and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. The combination, in a lspring-heel for boots or shoes, of a spring-plate embodying a top and bottom wing and a connecting-bend,

one of said wings being provided with a re- A taining flange or lip projecting from its edge and engaging the edge of the other wing, and a corresponding elastic cushion disposed be- IOO tween the Wings of the plate7 substantially as set forth.

2. The combination7 in a springheel for boots or shoes, of a spring-plate embodying a top and bottom wing, a connecting-bend at the rear edges of the wings, and a Bange or lip projecting from the front edge of the bottom Wing and extending np and over the edge of the top wing, and an elastic cushion dis posed between the wings of the plate, substantially as set forth.

3. The combiaton, with the heel of a boot or shoe, of a spring-plate comprising atop and bottom Wing corresponding tothe heel in horizontal section, and connected by a bend, and a retaining-delige projecting from the edge of one Wing and engaging the edge ofthe other wing, a corresponding cushion disposed between the wings of the plate, a wearingsurface secured to the under face oi' the bottom Wing, and securing-screws, substantially as set forth.

4. As an improved article of manufacture,

the under face of the bottom Wing, the several parts being provided with perforations for the admission of securing-screws, substantially as set forth.

5. In a spring-heel of the class described, comprising a top and bottom Wing, a retaining-flange projecting from the edge ofone wing and extending up and over the edge of the other Wing, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereofI afx my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE E. SWAN.

Witnesses:

J.. R. LrT'rnLL, M. A. BALLINGER. 

